tools
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Nanotechnology
Contamination detection tools integrate ultra-sensitive water testing with synthetic biology and nanotechnology
Graphical abstract. Credit: ACS Nano (2025). doi: 10.1021/acsnano.4c17598 The platform, developed nearly 20 years ago, has been previously used to detect protein interactions with DNA, perform accurate COVID-19 tests, and has been reused to create highly sensitive water contamination detection tools. The technology merges two exciting areas (synthetic biology and nanotechnology) to create a new platform for chemical monitoring. Once…
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Biology
New AI tools for rapid identification in forensic investigations are faster than humans at estimating biological sex
Volume rendering CT scans visualized with Osirix, featuring five cranial properties used in this study. (a) Left side view showing Gravella (GLA), mastoid (MAS), and Nuchal Crest (NUC). (b) Abnormal viewing with mental uplift (male) and superorbital margin (SUP) shown. Credit: Science Report (2024). doi:10.1038/s41598-024-81718-y CSIRO, a national science institution in Australia, has developed an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tool…
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Environment
New NOAA dataset helps improve flood mitigation tools and flood risk assessments
On April 12, 2024, high tide flooding submerged vehicles and parking meters in Annapolis, Maryland. Storm surge flooding is the flooding of normally dry coastal land with water, which occurs during high tide. As sea levels rise, storm surge flooding becomes more frequent, increasing disruption to coastal communities. Credit: NOAA The first modeled historical water level and wave datasets for…
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Nanotechnology
Diversifying DNA origami: Generative design tools rely on grammatical rules to find optimal shapes
(A) The grammar rules in this work include triangulation of surface meshes. The distance d and rotation angle θ are user-defined values. (B) Grammar rules are randomly sampled and applied to evolve the design solution sn during the generation process. Credit: Nucleic Acids Research (2024). DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae1268 As the name suggests, DNA origami is a fabrication technique in which researchers…
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Science
Research results show that chimpanzees use tools to enhance competition
A new study published in the journal Science shows that chimpanzees have steadily honed their tool-using skills, a process that has unfolded over thousands of years through the exchange of ideas through migration between populations. “Planet of the Apes” may have been on to something. Chimpanzees have steadily honed their tool-using skills, a process that has unfolded over thousands of…
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Earth
Open source footprint tools: businesses and investors can now get smarter about nature
Elana Kimbrel Global impact hotspots vary by ecosystem service and biodiversity indicators. Credit: Communications Earth & Environmental (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-024-01797-7 Global economic development has brought many benefits to people around the world, but many of them have come at the expense of nature. However, governments, financial institutions, and businesses are increasingly recognizing that this paradigm undermines the long-term viability of…
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Biology
New data science tools dramatically speed up environmental molecular analysis
Source: Nature Protocols (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-01046-3 A research team led by scientists at the University of California, Riverside has developed a computational workflow for analyzing large data sets in the field of metabolomics, the study of small molecules found in cells, biofluids, tissues and entire ecosystems. Recently, the team applied this new computational tool to analyze contaminants in ocean waters…
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Chemistry
AI tools contribute to elucidating the enzyme mechanism of lasso peptides
Source: Nature Chemical Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01727-w Lasso peptides are natural substances made by bacteria. Their unusual shape gives them incredible stability, protecting them from harsh conditions. In a new study published in Nature Chemical Biology, researchers built and tested a model of how these peptides are made and showed how this information could be used to advance lasso peptide-based…
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